Larry King asks Bill Gates: Are you jealous of Apple's success? |
Connect with TechFlash on our Facebook page for all the latest technology news headlines and commentary, plus information and access to special events, photos from events, promotions and more.
For all his bumbling folksiness, Larry King has a knack for getting right to the heart of the matter, and this exchange from last night's interview with Bill Gates and his father was no exception. The CNN interviewer brought up Apple's "amazing run of success" and asked the Microsoft chairman, "is there jealousy involved?"
Of course Gates said no. But as you can see in the video above, he didn't really focus on Apple's recent success. Instead, he cited Apple's "huge ups and downs" over the years, shared his personal history writing BASIC for the Apple II, and talked about Microsoft's experience as a major Mac software developer.
"It's great to see technology companies (that are) very successful. There's room for lots to be successful. We'll compete, and that's a great, great thing. They've done well. There was a period where it looked like they wouldn't even survive, so the ups and downs of technology are incredible."
King's follow-up: "You like Steve Jobs?"
"Absolutely," Gates said. "Steve's brilliant, done very good work. The times we have gotten to work together -- intensely on some Apple II work and then Macintosh -- we enjoyed sparring together. ... We have different strengths, but we both love the industry."
Despite being framed in the context of Apple's recent success, the exchange felt weirdly outdated, which is perhaps ordinary on King's show. Part of it was the mistaken labeling of Gates as Microsoft CEO -- a title he hasn't held now for more than a decade -- along with Gates talking about the history between the companies.
But more than that, it was the reference by Gates to Microsoft's desire to "compete," a term that brought up memories of the landmark antitrust case against the company, which drove home the importance of equitable competition. At this point, Microsoft is enough of an underdog in enough areas that it's probably OK for Gates to drop the whole "we just want to compete" thing and say plainly that the company actually aspires to win.
If you are commenting using a Facebook account, your profile information may be displayed with your comment depending on your privacy settings. By leaving the 'Post to Facebook' box selected, your comment will be published to your Facebook profile in addition to the space below.
Who's creating today's energy efficient buildings? Find out at the BetterBricks Awards, Feb. 16
BetterBricks Awards salute the individuals leading the way for high performance commercial buildings with an emphasis on energy efficiency. Join us as we recognize these standout green building professionals.
Award categories include: Advocate; Architect/Designer; Facility Manager/Operator; and Owner/Developer.
Keynote Speaker: Kevin Kampschroer, Director of U.S. GSA's Office of Federal High Performance Buildings. Kevin leads the U.S. General Services Administration's efforts in building sustainability and accelerating industry adoption of sustainable principles across all aspects of a building's life.
Register here by February 10!
If you are interested in buying a table, email Monica Alquist or call her at 206-876-5404.
The Triple Door Presents: The Atomic Bombshells "J'ADORE!: A Burlesque Valentine"
Seattle's reigning Burlesque super-troupe delivers a gorgeous and glittering VALENTINE featuring some of the Bombshells' most exhilarating acts to date. J'Adore! promises to celebrate l'amour with good humor, style, and a healthy dose of dazzle! Bring a friend, a lover, a family member, or a secret crush, and celebrate with the Valentine's Burlesque spectacular that will leave you shouting: "J'ADORE......The Atomic Bombshells!" The incomparable Jasper McCann emcees with high style and charm.
Please visit www.thetripledoor.net for a full schedule of future performances.
The Triple Door Presents: Bob Mould – See A Little Light: An Evening of Reading and Music
"Bob Mould. Those two words are synonymous with integrity. From Husker Du in the last century to right at this moment, Bob is the real deal, writing and playing music for music's sake. He's a great songwriter and performer. I have been a fan of Bob's for thirty years now with no end in sight." -Henry Rollins
Please visit www.thetripledoor.net for a full schedule of future performances.
Why Choose BDO for your SOC (previously SAS 70) Reports?
BDO’s experience in providing attestation services (SAS 70/SSAE 16, AT 101, AT 201, AT 601, etc.) to a broad range of industries, and our team of skilled professionals distinctly qualifies us to serve as your company’s Service Auditor. By leveraging the BDO global network of control specialists, we are poised to provide global services in more than 1,000 offices and across 119 countries. Many organizations find that investing in reports on controls may result in benefits, including:
• Increased client confidence
• Improved competitive advantage
• Minimization of frequent audits
• Streamlined business processes and controls
• Enhanced risk management
For detailed information contact Paul Martini at pmartini@bdo.com.